OXFAM is an international aid organization that
works with other organizations to end poverty and human suffering.

Arturo Cruje, Provincial Planning and
Development Coordinator, said the project was aimed to support the
implementation of R.A. 10121, otherwise known as the Disaster Risk Reduction
and Management Act, by improving access to information and increasing
institutional capacities of high risk municipalities in the province.

Cruje said the project builds on the numerous
efforts in disaster preparedness and empowering vulnerable communities.

“OXFAM believes when RA 10121 is localized and
implemented properly, communities will significantly reduce their risk and
increase their capacity to stay out of harm’s way,” he said.

Cruje added Governor Sol Matugas has already
instructed the provincial planning and development office through the
provincial disaster risk reduction and management office to closely coordinate
and work with OXFAM and with identified local pilot communities.

Target areas will be selected based on
vulnerability to multihazards and natural disasters, receptiveness and
willingness, and good track record of sustaining projects from previous donors
and other aid agencies. (PPDO/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

PRO-13 tech'l working group to activate Advisory
Group

By PSupt Martin M Gamba

BUTUAN CITY, July 24 (PIA) -- Police Regional
Office (PRO)-13 has recognized the urgency of addressing key strategic issues
outlined in the Philippine National Police (PNP) Integrated Transformation
Program (ITP), the PNP’s roadmap to transform the organization into a more
capable, effective and credible police force.

In order to fully implement the program, an
advisory group at the regional level needs to be institutionalized. The PRO 13
Technical Working Group (TWG) headed by PSSupt David Y. Ombao, regional chief
directorial staff, convened July 19, 2012 for the creation of the regional
advisory group for police transformation and development, to be called as PRO
13 Advisory Group.

Members of the PRO 13 Advisory Group will be
selected by PRO TWG among the recommendees from different sectors of the
society, known for their integrity, leadership, transparency and good
governance, advocacy for transformation, community leadership and source of
synergy.

Each member of the TWG will have to submit their
respective recommendees, subject for approval of all members.

The advisory group will primarily assume a role
that is advisory in nature. It will not have any administrative or operational
authority nor strategic advisory for specific operational decisions within the
police regional office. The strategic advisory role is limited to
interpretation and analysis of the PNP ITP-Performance Governance System (PGS)
and the ongoing programs, projects and activities pertaining to the reform and
development of PRO 13.

PRO 13 TWG is looking forward to the advisory
group being of great help in the transformation process of the Caraga police
force. (RER/NCLM/PNP-13/PIA-Caraga)

Country’s Honor Awardees as active advocates of
good governance

MANILA, July 24 (PIA) -- Tapping Honor Awards
Program (HAP) awardees to be Civil Service Commission’s (CSC) partner in the
implementation of its programs, projects and activities is reflective of the
CSC’s commitment to its core mission of “Gawing lingkod bayani ang bawat
kawani.”

CSC regional offices (CSCROs) are enjoined to
encourage HAP awardees to take a more active role in regional events and/or
make their presence felt in the regions by inviting them to deliver
inspirational messages during flag-raising ceremonies, share best practices,
among others.

They may also be tapped to assist in promoting
the 2013 Search and act as resource persons on the documentation of
accomplishments and packaging of nominations of prospective HAP nominees.

The CSC Honor Awards Program Secretariat has
prepared an updated database of past and present awardees of the Presidential
Lingkod Bayan, the Outstanding Public Officials and Employees Award or Dangal
ng Bayan, and the Civil Service Commission Pagasa.

This was given to CSCROs nationwide to
facilitate coordination with the awardees within their respective geographical
jurisdictions. Thus, the Lingkod Bayan Network (LBNet) was established per OM
No. 44, s. 2012 dated April 25, 2012.

The LBNet is established in answer to the
challenge of President Benigno S. Aquino III during the 2011 HAP awarding
rites, who was represented by Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa.

CSC Chairman Francisco T. Duque III urged the
country's crème-dela-crème to mobilize and actively advocate the tenets of good
governance. He also pledged support to the undertakings of the LBNet when a
total of 55 honor awardees signed a manifesto calling for support from
concerned government agencies for the full implementation of the incentives and
rewards of honor awardees in accordance with Executive Order No. 508, series of
1992 and Republic Act No. 6713, last May 28, 2012 during the LBNet Forum and
Fellowship held at the PNP multipurpose hall, Camp Crame. (CSC/PIA-Caraga)